June 23rd is a memorial day for Okinawa: “Irei no Hi” (Memorial Day). Last month, at AMICUS elementary school students gathered for their peace assembly to reflect on peace.

At the assembly, everyone sang “Hana no Machi” (Town of Flowers), a beautiful song filled with wishes for post-war recovery and peace. The children’s voices filled the gym creating a truly heartwarming atmosphere.

Afterward, representatives presented peace poems that each student had created. It was wonderful to see them passionately convey their wishes for peace, whether in Japanese or English.

The assembly concluded with a read-aloud by Mr. Oshiro, and a short skit of “Cinderella” performed by the elementary school teachers. While the skit brought moments of laughter, it also carried an important message: how precious it is to be able to laugh freely in the present.

Finally, after the assembly, all the elementary students planted sunflowers, symbolizing their wishes for peace. These sunflowers will grow alongside the children as summer approaches. We hope that just as these flowers bloom brightly towards the sun, our children’s futures will also be bright and expansive.